Justice News

Dallas Man Admits Possessing And Producing Child Pornography Involving A Minor Under Age Two

DALLAS — James Brian Rivers, 23, of Dallas, appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma C. Ramirez and pleaded guilty to an indictment charging one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of prepubescent child pornography. He faces a total statutory penalty of at least 15 years and a maximum of 50 years in federal prison, a $500,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release. Sentencing is set for May 19, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, on June 30, 2013, Rivers left his cellphone at a neighbor’s home. The neighbor looked through the cellphone and observed multiple images of child pornography and called 911. When officers with the Dallas Police Department arrived at the residence, they seized the cell phone obtained a search warrant for the phone. A forensic review of the phone revealed multiple images and one video depicting child pornography involving a prepubescent child.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/. For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ and click on the tab “resources.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks is in charge of the prosecution.